Spousal Support

Courts do not use a set formula for spousal support like they do when calculating child support. This means your award could vary greatly depending on your unique situation. Our Lake County alimony lawyers at Strauss & Hoyt, LLC understand this concept and have helped numerous clients over the years with their support issues.

If you are seeking a spousal support award or have questions regarding protecting your income from support payments, contact our Illinois family law office for a free initial consultation.

Spousal Support Attorneys Serving Illinois

At our law firm, we stay on top of the latest changes in Illinois family laws that could affect our clients. In the near future, there is potential for the laws in Illinois to change drastically regarding your support payments.

These new laws could also necessitate a modification of your current alimony award. You can rely on us to analyze your situation and provide strong recommendations on how to proceed with your matter.

Types of Spousal Maintenance in Illinois

There are, in general, two kinds of spousal support: temporary and permanent. Temporary spousal support is before the divorce. Beyond the divorce, there may be long-term, short-term, or permanent support depending on your circumstances. The legislature has stated that the goal of support is for both spouses to be self-supporting. However, this is often not possible. As a result, the higher income spouse will frequently pay alimony to the other spouse. Generally, spousal support terminates when the recipient remarries or cohabits with another person.

Temporary alimony is usually ordered in order to help a former spouse establish himself or herself and get back on his or her feet, especially if he or she stayed at home and was the primary caregiver of a couple’s children. However, temporary support can be ordered for other reasons as well. It often terminates when the recipient remarries or cohabitates with another person.

Permanent alimony is usually awarded when a marriage has lasted more than 15 years. In some cases, it may be awarded if the recipient is financially dependent on his or her spouse. While there is no formula per se, the court will look at a number of financial factors when determining spousal support. Like other aspects of a divorce settlement, it can be modified for various reasons.

In the case of spousal maintenance or alimony, the court takes into account:

• The length of a marriage
• The income of both spouses
• Educational backgrounds
• Earning potential
• Contribution to the other spouse’s education
• And more

Contact Our Lake County Spousal Support Lawyers Today

If you are facing spousal support issues, contact our Lake county alimony lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation. You can rely on us to answer your questions and quickly begin to build a strong case to protect your rights.